OLYMPIC hero Sir Bradley Wiggins is set to ride through the streets of Evesham and Pershore when the Tour of Britain comes to the Vale next month.
The 34-year-old, who won the event last year, is expected to be among a world class field of cyclists which will be vying for the Friends Life Yellow Jersey.
The four-time Olympic gold medallist and winner of the 2012 Tour de France would be part of Team Sky, which will be one of the 20 squads taking part.
The Tour will visit Worcestershire on Wednesday, September 10, with cyclists starting Stage Four from The Hive in Worcester at 10.30am before travelling through Bransford, Malvern, Upton, Pershore, Evesham and Broadway.
Excitement is already building in the Vale with a number of celebratory events taking place to mark the event.
In Pershore the streets will be dressed with bunting and in Chapman Court there will be a celebratory bicycle made entirely from willow. There will also be street entertainment and school children are expected to line the streets with Pershore High School running a yellow jersey day for charity.
In Evesham, cycling group the Evesham Wheelers will see the Tour of Britain passing through the weekend after the start of the first Cyclefest, a festival to truly celebrate pedal power and raising money for Evesham’s Bell Tower.
Peter Pawsey, executive chair at Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, which is hosting the tour, said excitement was building ahead of the event.
“The confirmation of the teams is really exciting and there’s no doubt that the potential for well-known names such as Bradley Wiggins in the line-up will only add to the build-up.” he said.
“We are extremely pleased to bring the tour to Worcestershire with all the opportunities it brings to profile our beautiful county.
“We are very grateful for the support of the county council, city council, Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils and our sponsors for making this happen.
“I hope the people of Worcestershire will get behind the riders and give them a warm Worcestershire welcome on September 10.”
Teams competing in the Tour of Britain:
Belkin Pro Cycling (NED)
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Garmin Sharp (USA)
Movistar Team (SPA)
Omega Pharma Quick-Step (BEL)
Team Giant Shimano (NED)
Team Sky (GBR)
Tinkoff Saxo (RUS)
UCI Pro Continental Teams:
Bardiani CSF (ITA)I
AM Cycling (SWI)
MTN Qhubeka (RSA)
Team NetApp Endura (GER)
Team Novo Nordisk (USA)
UCI Continental Teams:
AN Post Chain Reacton (IRL)
Madison Genesis (GBR)
NFTO Pro Cycling (GBR)
Giordana Racing Team (GBR)
Rapha Condor JLT (GBR)
Team Raleigh (GBR)
National Teams:
Great Britain (GBR)
